The Challenge of Liaison Operations in Autocratic Regimes

Cipher Brief Expert View

As Turkish officials continue to release details that draw a gruesome picture of the apparent murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the level of information they say they have collected suggests a robust espionage capability against the Saudis in Turkey.

While the rightful diplomatic question of how the United States should respond to what is looking like a horrific violation of human rights, is being raised, there are more nuanced, and complicated aspects of relationships that the U.S. has with autocratic regimes that should also be considered.  It’s a long-game, short-game approach and sometimes understanding the appropriate balance between condemning horrific acts and continuing to work together is the hardest to achieve.  It is also likely, the most important balance.

The Cipher Brief has become the most popular outlet for former intelligence officers; no media outlet is even a close second to The Cipher Brief in terms of the number of articles published by formers.” —Sept. 2018, Studies in Intelligence, Vol. 62

Access all of The Cipher Brief‘s national security-focused expert insight by becoming a Cipher Brief Subscriber+Member.

Cipher Brief Expert View

Related Articles

Search

Close